HE LONG-TERM GOAL AND SUPPORTING OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROPOSED PROJECT ARE TO INCREASE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF AMERICAN INDIAN SMALL TO MEDIUM-SIZE LIVESTOCK AND CROP PRODUCERS BY INCREASING THEIR ABILITY TO ADHERE TO NEW LEASING REGULATIONS BASED ON DYNAMIC AND CHANGING AMERICAN INDIAN LAND TENURE SYSTEM. THE SHORT-TERM GOAL IS TO INCREASE SMALL TO MEDIUM-SIZED LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS' ABILITY TO INCREASE AND SUSTAIN FARM AND RANCH ACCESS TO LAND TO INCREASE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE ENTIRE OPERATION. BECAUSE THE UNITED STATES HAD TRUST TITLE TO LAND OWNED (OR BENEFICIALLY OWNED) BY A TRIBE OR INDIVIDUAL INDIAN, THERE ARE COMPLICATING FACTORS FOR LAND USE AND LAND TENURE THAT CAN LEAD TO INEFFICIENT AND LIMITED ACCESS TO LAND. THIS PROJECT WILL ASSESS HOW THESE JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES BETWEEN THE TRIBES, INDIVIDUAL INDIANS AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS) IS IMPACTING THE ABILITY OF AMERICAN INDIAN SMALL TO MEDIUM-SIZED FARMS TO ACCESS LAND.NEW MODELS WILL BE DEVELOPED TOIMPROVE DECISION MAKING TO ALLOW AMERICAN INDIAN RANCHERS AND FARMERS TO BE MORE ECONOMICALLY EFFICIENT. IN ADDITION, RESEARCH WILL HIGHLIGHT THE OBSTACLES TO LAND ACCESS AND DEVELOP THE BEST PRACTICES THAT WILL BE USED IN EXTENSION PROGRAMMING. THE PROJECT IS INTEGRATED WITH EXTENSION AND RESEARCH COMPONENTS. AN ADVISORY BOARD WILL NOT ONLY PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE EXTENSION PROGRAM NEEDS FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED AMERICAN INDIAN AGRICULTURE PRODUCERS, BUT ALSO IN EVALUATING PRELIMINARY RESULTS AND EXTENSION MATERIALS. MATERIALS WILL ALSO BE USED INTERACTIVELY AS PART OF THE DESIGN AND TESTING BEFORE FINAL VERSIONS ARE PUBLISHED.